Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax

For many people, the big draw is its collection of Titanic artifacts. But c'mon, let your Titanic heart go on. For male kids of all ages, the best part just might be the collection of ship models. (The fake pirate hung in the lobby is ghoulish but fun too.) Great liners of the past, famous ferry boats and other vessels are rendered in exacting and astonishing detail. If you ever tried -- and failed -- to build a model ship, take a minute to wander through this exhibit and see how the pros do it. The museum also has a section on the Great Halifax Explosion of 1917, in which an ammunition ship was rammed by a cargo vessel in the harbor, caught fire and blew up, leveling a wide swath of the city and killing more than 1,900 people. Bet you didn't know it was the largest man-made explosion before the nuclear bomb. If none of that floats your boat, you can always chat with the talking bird near the entrance, or watch him get his daily bath.

For many people, the big draw is its collection of Titanic artifacts. But c'mon, let your Titanic heart go on. For male kids of all ages, the best part just might be the collection of ship models. (The fake pirate hung in the lobby is ghoulish but fun too.) Great liners of the past, famous ferry boats and other vessels are rendered in exacting and astonishing detail. If you ever tried -- and failed -- to build a model ship, take a minute to wander through this exhibit and see how the pros do it. The museum also has a section on the Great Halifax Explosion of 1917, in which an ammunition ship was rammed by a cargo vessel in the harbor, caught fire and blew up, leveling a wide swath of the city and killing more than 1,900 people. Bet you didn't know it was the largest man-made explosion before the nuclear bomb. If none of that floats your boat, you can always chat with the talking bird near the entrance, or watch him get his daily bath. (Paul Whitefield / Los Angeles Times)

For many people, the big draw is its collection of Titanic artifacts. But c'mon, let your Titanic heart go on. For male kids of all ages, the best part just might be the collection of ship models. (The fake pirate hung in the lobby is ghoulish but fun too.) Great liners of the past, famous ferry boats and other vessels are rendered in exacting and astonishing detail. If you ever tried -- and failed -- to build a model ship, take a minute to wander through this exhibit and see how the pros do it. The museum also has a section on the Great Halifax Explosion of 1917, in which an ammunition ship was rammed by a cargo vessel in the harbor, caught fire and blew up, leveling a wide swath of the city and killing more than 1,900 people. Bet you didn't know it was the largest man-made explosion before the nuclear bomb. If none of that floats your boat, you can always chat with the talking bird near the entrance, or watch him get his daily bath.Paul Whitefield / Los Angeles Times